The first of the war wagons kicked up dirt and dust as they were pushed from the inside, bouncing against the uneven surface of the ground. The crossbow bolts continued their rapidfire, causing the first of the lines to simply fall away as the Gerheist soldiers were wounded or killed by bolts.

The mercenaries, in the second line, however, were far more seasoned.

"Spearmen! Spearmen! Ready your spears! Once the wagons get stuck in the first line, aim for the holes they're shooting at us from!" Clive yelled, raising his own sword and readying himself by bending a little, giving himself more cover from the tower shield that protected him.

Then, the first wagon smashed into the first line, screams of pain and agony arose as these heavy machines slammed into flesh and bone. Some died from the impact, but some would suffer a broken bone or two if they are lucky. As the remaining wagons joined the first, pounding away at the first defensive line manned by Gerheist's green soldiers, the mercenaries moved.

Just as Clive was about to give his signature grin, soldiers suddenly emerged from underneath with those damnable owl sigils on their shield, moving with almost inhuman like grace, aiming straight for the knees of the spearmen, pushing their spears out of the way. As one of the Owl soldiers got too close, Clive shoved one of his own men on top of the soldier, causing the Owl soldier to stagger. With one stroke, Clive cut the soldier's throat, sending him into the ground, writhing and twisting as the blood seeped out of him. Clive planted a boot into the soldier's chest, watching as, on the horizon, wave upon wave of troops gathering under a Carmine banner surged forward, climbing out of trenches or running over them.

"Stand fast! The remaining wagons, jam the wheels with your weapons when they go by!" Clive yelled as another wave of war wagons found itself in Gerheist lines. This seemed to have worked, with even just a wheel dislodged, the wagon would topple over on one end. However, it can be argued that it worked against the Gerheist troops as well. As a single wheel is dislodged, the whole wagon was sent flying, smashing into a group of unlucky souls. However, the Carmine soldiers would emerge almost unscathed and carry on to do battle.

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Then, a horn blast.

The main of the Gerheist troops were committing themselves to the battle as well and these were no rookies. They formed the backbone of the Gerheist army. Clive, hearing the horn, ordered a fighting withdrawal, to place the frontlines of the Carmine army within the range of Gerheist javelins. Clive, in his head, calculated that if they stopped as many of the war wagons as they could, right here, the chance of winning would lean towards their side. 

"Who do you fight for!?" a shout from a commander of the Gerheist army at the back, echoed by Gerheist captains.

"For the land, for the sea, for the Gods and our King!" the infantrymen shouted back, a booming voice that caused even some of the charging Carmine soldiers to stop and stare.

"Cavalry! How are your steeds!" the same commander asked, looking at the Companion cavalry, some of Gerheist's most elite legions of horsemen.

"As swift as it can be, to carry out the King's deeds!" came the reply from the Companion cavalry, not wishing to lose to the infanteers.

"Skirmishers!" the commander shouted as the line neared them. These lightly armoured men raised their javelins, waiting for the command. Clive and his league of mercenaries have almost succeeded... They just need to hold on...

"Carmine cavalry on the horizon!" a scout reported to the commander who watched as the gates of Phoenix's Fall opened, and outcame the slower Cataphracts. However, the extra weight made for a loud and terrifying stampeded of hooves as their heavy armour glinted in the sunlight. 

The war wagons, however, were being slowed down by the sheer volume of men the mercenaries and Gerheist troops trying to stop them. Losing their momentum, the footmen emerged, clashing head to head with the mercenaries. The Carmine frontlines was about to join the battle.

Clive then raised his hand towards the Gerheist commander, a signal.

"Skirmishers! Throw javelins!" 

A massive wave of javelins swarmed through the air and Clive grinned. The battle was won.

However, a gust of wind blew, so ridiculously strong that it buffeted everyone and the javelins fell backwards, slamming into the Gerheist lines, inducing screams of panic and shock from the Skirmishers.

There, Clive watched as a single man in heavy armour and a tower shield, along with a sword that blazed with a blue light stood there, a terrifying aura around him.

Lawrence Carstein has joined the fray.